J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours

Kenilworth Castle is seen from the east-south-east, with the Great Tower on the skyline with Leicester’s Building to its left. Below the Great Tower is the Water Tower, with Leicester’s Gatehouse and Lunn’s Tower below to the right. There appears to be a footbridge in the foreground. The viewpoint is on or near Castle Road, where a road bridge now crosses the stream below the castle, largely obscured by trees on this side. The view continues a little way onto folio 35 recto opposite (D22040), where trees frame Turner’s prospect. At the top right is a slight plan or diagram of part of the castle, which also continues opposite.

Most of the sketches between folios 27 recto (D22024) and 37 verso (D22045) show Kenilworth. For the history of the castle and Turner’s subsequent watercolour, which Eric Shanes has described as a ‘synthesis’ of sketches between folios 28 verso (D22027) and 37 verso,1 see under folio 29 recto (D22028).